Hanger apparatus for use in moving vehicles



June 4, 1968 E. PRETE, JR 3,386,589

HANGER APPARATUS FOR USE IN MOVING VEHICLES Filed Marh v, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet 1 47 fNve-wrok. EeA/esr Pee r5 J'e /Maya, 6mm

June 4, 1968 E. PRETE, JR 3,386,589

HANGER APPARATUS FOR USE IN MQVING VEHICLES Filed March v, 1966 1'2Sheets-Sheet 2 L56. 6.

fm ewrw. L-ENESTPRETE, Jk.

United States Patent 3,386,589 HANGER APPARATUS FOR USE IN MOVINGVEHICLES Ernest Prete, IL, 21145 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills,Calif. 91364 Filed Mar. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 532,391 8 Claims. (Cl.211-118) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A clothing hanger apparatusincluding a head member to be removably suspended in a vehicle below thevehicle headliner, a body portion to receive an article of clothing tobe hung within the vehicle in a generally vertical position, journalmeans associated with the hanger body and head for pivotally mountingthe body means for movement from a vertically depending clothes hangingposition of use to a generally inverted, vertically upwardly extending,position of non-use adjacent the vehicle headliner while said hangerbody is removably mounted within said vehicle and spring or resilientfriction holding means for holding the body portion in its generallyinverted, out-of-the-way, position of non-use within the vehicle whenthe apparatus is not being used for hanging clothing vertically therein.

Background of the invention This invention relates in general to ahanger apparatus for use in hanging clothing or similar articles inmoving Vehicles which is adapted to be easily placed in an outof-the-wayposition when not in use to hang an article of clothing. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to such clothing hangerapparatuses particularly adapted for use in moving vehicles which may beemployed for hanging clothes or other articles from a position in thevehicle at a side Wall thereof adjacent the vehicle headliner or top andwherein the major portion or body of the hanger may be inverted into anout-of'the- Way position extending generally upwardly against oradjacent the headliner of the vehicle securely and free of rattling ormovements which might distract the vehicle driver or passengers.

In many vehicles, such as automobiles, a conventional coat hook ispositioned at a side wall genenally above the vehicle rear seat andadjacent the vehicle inner top or headliner. Such coat hooks do notallow the hanging of clothing in the more desirable fashion as thatprovided by conventional coat hangers employed in places of stationaryuse, such as in use in the clothes closets of most homes. I have furtherfound that it is objectionable to use a conventional coat hanger forhanging clothing on the coat hooks normally provided in automobilesbecause of the inconvenience and annoyance of nattling and movement ofsuch coat hangers in the automobile or vehicle when not in use.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention todisclose and provide a clothing hanger apparatus particularly adaptedfor use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles which can be easilystored or placed in an out-of-theway position adjacent its location ofuse when clothing is not hung thereon.

It is a primary object of the present invention to disclose a clothinghanger as in the foregoing object wherein a head portion of the hangermay be positioned on or at the location of use of a conventional Coathook found in automobiles and wherein the hanger apparatus body isadapted to be easily moved to and held in an inverted position, relativeto the head portion, extending generally upwardly adjacent the headlineror inner top of the vehicle or automobile.

It is another object of the present invention to disclose a clothinghanger apparatus as in the foregoing objects wherein the hanger body ispivotally connected to the head portion to be pivoted into an invertedposition extending upwardly against the headliner and means are providedfor biasing or holding the body portion in such inverted position withthe outer free end of the body abutting the vehicle inner top or headliner in a secure rattle-free position.

It is another object of the present invention to disclose and provide aclothing hanger apparatus as in the foregoing objeots wherein the hangerbody is easily separable from the head portion thereof to facilitateplacing clot-hing or articles of apparel on the body portion and hangingthereof from the head portion.

It is a further object of the present invention to disclose and providea clothing hanger apparatus, as in the foregoing objects, wherein thebody portion is separable from the head portion to facilitate itsinversion and re-assembly to the head portion in an inverted positionextending generally upwardly against the headliner of the vehicle.

It is a still further object of the present invention to disclose andprovide a clothing hanger apparatus for use in hanging clothing from ahook, such as a conventional coat hook in automobiles, adapted to beeasily carried by such hook in an out-of-the-way position with a bodyportion inverted and extending upwardly against the vehicle headliner bymeans of resilient means associated with the head member and bodyportion which allow the body to be readily moved into a lowered operableposition ready for use in hanging clothing or other articles of apparel.

These and other objects as well as various advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from aconsideration of the following detailed explanation of exemplaryembodiments of the clothing hanger apparatus, in accordance with thepresent invention. Reference will be made to the appended sheets ofdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of clothinghanger apparatus for use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles,according to the present invention, showing the hanger body placed in aninverted upwardly extending out-of-the-way position adjacent a vehicleheadliner or interior ceiling;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the exemplary hanger apparatusof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the portions of the apparatus of FIGS. 1through 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative exemplary embodiment ofclothing hanger apparatus, according to the present invention, for usein hanging clothing in moving vehicles showing a hanger body in dottedline in an alternative position of use;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 5 showing the hangerbody in solid line in an inverted outof-the-way position when not in useand a preferred position of use for hanging clothing in dot-dash line;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a second alternative exemplaryembodiment of clothing hanger apparatus, according to the presentinvention, showing the hanger body inverted into an out-of-the-wayposition when not in use for hanging clothing;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 7 showing thehanger body, in dotted line, in a position of use for hanging clothingthereon; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a third alternative exemplaryembodiment of clothing hanger apparatus, according to the presentinvention, for use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 4, a preferred exemplary embodimentof the clothing hanger apparatus, according to the present invention,for use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles will be described indetail. In FIG. 1 a vehicle interior ceiling, top or headliner isindicated generally at and the vehicle interior side wall is indicatedgenerally at 11. A convention coat hook 12 is shown with its base 13attached in conventional manner to a generally curved portion of thevehicle interior at the side wall indicated generally at 11 adjacent thevehicle interior top or headliner indicated generally at 10. A hook 14is mounted by the base 13 to receive a coat or other article of appareldirectly thereon when employed in its conventional use.

According to the present invention, a preferred exemplary embodiment ofclothing hanger apparatus, indicated generally at 15, is hung on thecoat hook 12 which, as shown, assumes an inverted out-of-the-wayposition when not in use to avoid rattling or distracting movementswhich might annoy or disturb the vehicle occupants. The exemplary hangerbody portion, which may be a wire body 40 as seen in FIG. 1, is mountedby connecting or journal means, indicated generally at 30 to a headportion suspended from hook 14.

The head member 20, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, may be made from twomating stamped head sections or halves 21 and 22. An opening or eyemeans 23 is provided by the head sections 21 and 22 to allow suspendingof the head member 20 on hook 14 of the coat hook 12. Bosses 24- and 25may be provided on the head sections or halves 21 and 22, respectively,to provide a snug fit as desired for the head member between the 'base13 and hook 14 when assembled to the coat hook 12, as seen in FIG. 1. Afastening means, such as rivet 26, may be employed for holding the headsections or halves 21 and 22 together in assembled relationship.

Hanger body 40 is adapted to receive an article of clothing or otherapparel when in its lowered upright position of use, as seen in dottedor phantom line in FIG. 1. Body 40 may be made of coat hanger Wire andincludes a pair of convergent side members 41 and 42 with a web orhorizontal span member 43. Each of the convergent side members 41 and 42is provided with top portions 44 and 45, respectively, which areinclined to the side members and generally parallel to the span 43.

Means are provided for holding the hanger wire body portion on theapparatus head member in a generally inverted position relative to thehead member and in an out-of-the-way position extending generallyupwardly adjacent the headliner of the vehicle, as seen in solid line inFIG. 1. In the preferred exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, suchholding means includes first the provision of journal means, indicatedgenerally at 30, on the head member 20 for rotatably mounting the hangerbody portion 40 on head member 20. As seen in FIG. 3, the head membersections 21 and 22 are provided with inwardly concave portions 31 and 32to rotatably journal or mount the hanger wire body top portion 44 tohead member 20. An inner end 46 of hanger wire body top member 44 isrotatably journaled or mounted in a central journal means 33 on headmember 20, journal means 33 being formed by two inwardly concaveportions on sections 21 and 22 as journal portions 31 and 32. The otherhanger wire body top portion and its inner end 47 are respectivelymounted in journal or connecting means 34 provided on head member 20 andthe head member central journal means 33. Journal or connecting means 34for mounting the hanger wire body top member or portion 45 may beprovided by opposed inwardly concave portions of head member 20, asportions 31 and 32 of FIG. 3 mount member 44. The head sections orhalves 21 and 22 may be assembled with the hanger wire body top portionsor members 44 and 45 received in the inwardly concave journal orconnecting portions provided in the head member prior to fastening thesections or halves together by the rivet means 26.

In the preferred exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, the meansfor holding the hanger body portion 40 in a generally inverted positionrelative to the head portion 20 also includes the provision of biasingmeans to bias body portion 40 into such inverted position when not inuse. Such biasing means in the preferred exemplary embodiment includesthe spring means indicated generally at 50 or biasing body portion 40upwardly against the headliner, indicated generally at 10, as seen inFIG. 1. The exemplary spring means includes, as seen in FIG. 4, atorsion spring 51 having protruding free ends 52 and 53. A springmounting or collar member 54, as seen in FIG. 4, is provided with a bore55 to be slidably received on the hanger wire body top arm portion ormember 47. Collar or spring mounting member 54 includes a head portion56 and a reduced body portion 57. A transverse slot 58 is provided inthe head portion 56 to slidably receive the flattened portion providedin the hanger wire body top arm portions 45 and 47 When collar member 54is slidably mounted onto hanger wire body arm portion 47 with theflattened portion 60 received in slot 58, the collar member 54 isnon-rotatably connected to the hanger wire body 40.

Torsion spring 51 is slidably mounted onto the body portion 57 of collarmember 50 with the horizontally or axially protruding end 53 received intransverse slot 58. Spring 51 is thereby non-rotatably positioned oncollar 54. The depending or laterally extending end 52 is locked or heldagainst rotation or movement by being positioned between the clampedhead sections or halves 21 and 22, as shown at 59 in FIG. 2. Headsections or halves 21 and 22 may be provided with inwardly concaveportions, as indicated generally at 59, to receive and lock the free end52 of spring 51 therebetween when the halves are held together by therivet means 26. Spring 51 may be assembled to the collar member 54 fixedupon hanger wire arm 47 and to the head portion 20 in relaxed ornon-torsioned relation thereto. The hanger body 40 may then be hung byhead portion 20 upon the coat hook 12 for use in hanging clothing withthe spring means, indicated generally at 50, in a relaxed position.

When it is desired to place the hanger wire body 40 in its upwardlyextending out-of-the-way position, as seen in FIG. 1, the head member 20may be rotated one full revolution counter-clockwise in FIG. 3 about thehanger wire body arm portions 44 and 45. Such rotation of head member 20relative to the hanger wire body 40 will load or activate the springmeans, indicated generally at 50, so that it exerts a biasing forcetending to cause relative rotation between head member 20 and hangerbody 40, the head member being urged in a clockwise direction in FIG. 3with the hanger body portion being urged in a counterclockwise directionin FIG. 3. With the spring means so activated, or loaded, the headmember 20 may be placed on coat hook 12 with the eye means 23 positionedover hook 14. The relative biasing of the spring 51 on head member 20and hanger body 40 then causes head member 20 to seat its lower endagainst the vehicle side wall while the hanger body is urged snuglyagainst the vehicle headliner. Such relative biasing of the head member20 and hanger body 40 causes them to be securely and snugly positionedin a rattle-free out-of-the-way position when not in use.

When it is desired to use the hanger body 40 for hang ing a coat orother article of apparel, with the apparatus assembled to the coat hook12 as hereinabove described, the hanger body 40 may be rotateddownwardly about its journal or connecting means, indicated generally at30, against the bias of the spring means indicated generally at 50. Itis contemplated that the weight of the coat or other article hung onhanger body 40 will be sufiicient to overcome the spring bias of spring51 tending to urge the hanger body back up against the vehicleheadliner. However, if the article to be hung does not have sufficientweight, or if it is desired to remove the apparatus from coat book 12 inorder to facilitate the hanging of such coat or article of clothing onhanger body 411, the apparatus may be easily removed from hook 14',allowing the spring means to be de-activated. After suspending the coator other article of clothing on hanger body 40, the entire apparatus,indicated generally at 15, may then be rehung on the hook 14 with orwithout reactivating the spring means in the manner previouslydescribed.

Stop means may be provided between the head member and the hanger wirebody portion for limiting relative rotation therebetween to facilitatethe placing of the spring means in its active or loaded relationship described above. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, suchstop means includes the provision of a bend or lateral extension in oneof the hanger body top arm portion, portions 44 and 46 as seen in FIG.2. An opening 71 is provided in the head member 20 to allow unrestrictedrotation or bend or lateral extension 70 therethrough except for theprovision of a stop or abutment tab 72 on head member 20 extending intothe opening 71. Both opening 71 and abutment tab 72 may be provided byproviding mating elements of similar configuration on the halves orsections 21 and 22 to provide the opening and tab of FIG. 2 when thehalves or sections are assembled.

When the spring means, indicated generally at 50, is in the relaxedstate or position of that shown in FIG. 2, the bend 70 in the hangerbody arm 44, 46 preferably abuts the front surface of the abutment orstop tab 72. The head member 20 may therefore be rotated in onedirection only relative to the hanger body 40. Such allowed rotation forhead member 20 is in a counter-clockwise direction, when viewed as inFIG. 3, to allow one full rotation thereof relative to hanger bodyportion 40 to apply the desired torque to torsion spring 51 to place itin its biasing relationship between the head member 20 and hanger body40.

An alternative exemplary embodiment of clothing hanger apparatus,according to the present invention, for use in hanging clothing inmoving vehicles is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this alternative exemplaryembodiment, the head member is adapted to be mounted to a vehicleinterior side wall or headliner adjacent the vehicle interior ceiling ortop, as seen in H6. 6. Head member 120 in the alternative exemplaryembodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 includes a pair of side walls 121 and 122formed integrally with a base or web portion 123. Base 123 may beattached to the vehicle side wall, indicated generally at 111, by aconventional fastening means, such as threaded screw 124. An upturnedflange or hook portion 125 may be provided at the lower end of base 123to serve as an alternative journal bearing or connecting means formounting the hanger wire body 140, when in use for hanging clothing, asseen in dotted line in F IG. 5.

The preferred journal or connecting means for mounting the hanger wirebody in the alternative exemplary embodiment are indicated generally atand include the provision of upwardly opening bearing means 131 and 132formed in the head member side walls 121 and 122. As seen in FIG. 5, thebearing members or portions 131 and 132 may be formed integrally withside walls 121 and 122 extending outwardly from the head base or Web 123to provide upwardly facing bearing surfaces 133 and 134 to pivotallysupport the hanger wire body top arms when in use for hanging clothing.Each journal or beating member or means 131 and 132 is also providedwith a reentrantly formed portion 135 and 136, respectively, to providethe downwardly facing bearing surfaces 137 and 138, respectively, toretain the hanger wire body 140 from outward movement thereof under thespring bias of spring means, indicated generally at 150, as subsequentlydescribed.

The means for holding the hanger body 140 on the alternative exemplaryhead member 121 in a generally inverted position relative to said headmember includes not only the aforedescribed journal or connecting means,indicated generally at 13%, but also includes the provision of biasingmeans to hold the body in such inverted position once it is rotated onthe journal means into the inverted outof-the-way position, as seen inFIG. 6. A leaf spring 151 may be mounted to the head member base 123 bypassing the fastening means, including screw 124, through a base portion152 of the spring, as seen in FIG. 6. The top arm portion 141 of thehanger wire body 140 may be flattened to provide laterally extendingwings 142 and 143, respectively. Leaf spring 151 is positioned on headmember 120 to provide the free or leaf end 153 thereof in position toexert a biasing force against the flattened wing portion 142 of thehanger wire body 149. As seen in FIG. 6, wire body 140 may be rotatedmanually from the lowered position shown in phantom line into the raisedinverted position shown in solid line. When moved or rotated on thejournal members 131 and 132 into the inverted position of FIG. 6, thespring 151 tends to bias the wire body 140 through the wing 142 upwardlyagainst the vehicle interior headliner in a rattle-free outofthewayposition. The downwardly facing bearing surfaces 137 and 138 prevent theoutward expulsion of the hanger body top arm portion 141 from thejournal memmembers 131 and 132.

When it is desired to place the alternative exemplary embodiment ofhanger body 140 in position for hanging a coat or other article ofapparel thereon, the hanger body 141) may be merely manually rotateddownwardly about the associated mounting means into an upright positionready for use. The clothing hanger construction of the alternativeexemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 as the additional advantage overthat of FIGS. 1 through 4 in that the hanger body 146 is separable fromthe head member 120. Hanger body 140 may be removed from the journal orconnecting means portions: 131 and 132 by merely lifting it out of theopenings provided between the head side walls 121, 122 and thereentrantly folded portions 135 and 136 of the members 131 and 132,respectively. The spring bias of spring 151 normally maintains the wirebody top arm portion 141 under inwardly folded portions 135 and 136 sothat to remove the wire body 143 from head member 120, the spring freeend 153 must be slightly depressed.

A second alternative exemplary embodiment is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Inthis alternative exemplary embodiment, the head member 220, as best seenin FIG. 8, includes a pair of side walls or flanges 221 and 222 formedintegrally with a base or web portion 223. As seen in FIG. 7, the headmember 220 may be mounted to a vehicle side wall, indicated generally at211, by a conventional fastening means, as screw 224, passed through thehead base 223. The lower end or tail portion of base 223 is providedwith an upwardly folded portion or hook member 225 to support a hangerwire body 240 in position. for use in hanging clothing thereon.

Means for holding the body portion 240 on the head member 220 in agenerally inverted position relative to the head member, in this secondalternative exemplary embodiment, are indicated generally at 230. Suchmeans includes the provision of a pair of spaced inclined slots 231 and232 opening generally upwardly toward the vehicle interior headliner,indicated generally at 210. Slots 231 and 232 are preferably formed inthe head member side walls or flanges 221 and 222 as seen in FIG. 8.

The hanger wire body 240 is provided with a generally flattened portion242 on the top arm member 241. The top arm and flattened portion may besuspended from hook member 225 when the hanger body 249 is in use forhanging clothing. However, when the hanger body 240 is not in use and itis desired to place it in an out-oftheway position up against theheadliner, indicated generally at 21%), it may be manually inverted andmounted in such inverted relation to the head member by sliding theflattened hanger body portion 242 into the mounting slots 231 and 232 onhead member 220, as seen in FIG. 7. The angle of inclination of slots231 and 232, the posi- I tioning of head member 226 relative to theheadliner, indicated generally at 210, and the height of the hanger body240 may be selected so that on sliding hanger flattened portion 242 intothe mounting slots 231 and 232, the hanger body 246 is held snugly innon-rattling relation up against the headliner, indicated generally at210, in its inverted out-of-the-way position. A resilient or biasingmeans, not shown, may be employed to promote a snug fit between theflattened portion and slots 231 and 232 if desired.

A third alternative exemplary embodiment of clothing hanger apparatus,according to the present invention, for use in hanging clothing inmoving vehicles is shown in FIG. 9. In this alternative exemplaryembodiment, the head member 320 is formed very much as that disclosed inthe first alternative exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6. Head member320 includes a pair of side flanges 321 and 322 formed integrally with abase or web portion 323. A conventional fastening means, as round-headedscrew 324 may be employed for mounting the head member 320 at a vehicleinner side wall adjacent the inner head liner, such as at the locationof coat hook 12 in FIG. 1 and in place thereof.

Head member 329 is provided with journal means, indicated generally at339 for rotatably receiving a hanger body portion 346. The exemplaryjournal means includes the provision of journal members 331 and 332extending outwardly of the head side flanges 321 and 322 to provideupwardly facing journal or bearing surfaces 333 and 334, respectively,to receive and support the hanger body top cross arm 341. Reentrantlyfolded portions 335 and 336 on members 331 and 332, respectively,provide downwardly directly bearing surfaces opposing surfaces 333 and334 and allow removal of hanger body 340 from the journal or mountingmeans, thus provided.

The tail or lower portion of base 323 may have an upwardly folded orhook portion 325 for alternative use in hanging the hanger body 346 orother articles of clothing as may be desired. Preferably, however, thehanger body 340 is suspended from the journal or connecting meansprovided by the journal members 331 and 332. Thus far, this thirdalternative exemplary embodiment of FIG. 9 employs construction similarto that of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6. However, no spring means, asspring 151, is mounted to the head member in this alternative exemplaryembodiment as was done in that of FIGS. 5 and 6.

Biasing means for holding the hanger body 349 on the journal meansincluding members 331 and 332 are provided in this third alternativeexemplary embodiment, as

indicated generally at 350 in FIG. 9. Leaf-type spring 351 is providedwith a main body portion 352 and is rotatably mounted to the hanger bodytop arm 341 by an end portion 353 folded or wrapped about arm 341. Aspring arm 354 is folded back upon body 352 from a bend or bight portion355 to resiliently engage the head of screw 324 when the hanger body 340is mounted on the journal members 331 and 332. With hanger body arm 341pivotally mounted in journal members 331 and 332 and the spring arm 354resiliently engaging screw 324, the hanger body arm 341 is biasedoutwardly thereof under the reentrantly folded portions 335 and 336 ofthe journal members 331 and 332, respectively. However, the hanger body340 may be easily separable from the journal means by overcoming thespring bias of spring 351 in raising arm 341 of the hanger body upwardlyout of the upwardly opening journal members 331 and 332.

Means for holding the hanger body 340 on the head member 320 in agenerally inverted position include an addition to the journal meansindicated generally at 330, the provision of a snug friction fit betweenhanger arm 341 and the spring portion 353 in this third alternativeexemplary embodiment. With the hanger body 340 and spring 351 assembledto the head member as hereinabove described, the hanger body 340 may bemanually rotated between a lowered position of use for hanging clothingand a raised inverted position out-of-the-way when not in use. Aserrated, knurled or roughened surface 342 may be provided on the hangerbody upper arm member 341 about which spring portion 353 is folded orwrapped. Spring portion 353, being made of spring metal, preferablyresiliently grasps or frictionally holds hanger body 34 in any positionof rotation it is placed in relative to spring 351. When the hanger body349 is rotated into an upwardly extending inverted position relative tothe head member 320, the snug friction fit between spring member orportion 353 and the hanger top arm 342 maintains hanger body 349 in suchupwardly extending inverted position against the vehicle interiorheadliner. At the same time, the spring bias of spring portion 354abutting the head base 323 or screw 324 urges the hanger top arm 341snugly into the semi-circular bearing surfaces provided by the journalmembers 331 and 332, and the inwardly folded or reentrantly foldedportions 335 and 336.

From the foregoing detailed explanation of four exemplary embodiments ofclothing hanger apparatus, according to the present invention, for usein hanging clothing or other articles in moving vehicles, it can be seenthat the various foregoing objects have been attained by the presentinvention. The clothing hanger apparatus of the present invention can beeasily stored or placed in an out-of-the-way position adjacent itslocation of use when clothing is not being hung on the hanger bodyportion thereof. The head portion of the hanger apparatus can besuspended on a conventional coat hook provided in automobiles or othervehicles or may be provided in place of such coat hook. In either event,the head member may be suspended at a vehicle interior side walladjacent the vehicle headliner and suspend the hanger body forconvenient use in hanging clothing or for holding the hanger body in aninverted position wherein it extends upwardly against the vehicleheadliner. The vehicle body is pivotally mounted to the head member andmay be removably connected thereto to allow removal of the hanger bodyfor ease of use in placing clothing or other articles of apparelthereon. In each of the foregoing exemplary embodiments, the hanger bodymay be held in its inverted position snugly against the vehicleheadliner so that the hanger apparatus is free of rattling, swinging orswaying movements or other characteristics which might be annoying ordistracting to the vehicle driver or occupants.

Having thus described preferred and alternative exemplary embodiments ofcoat hanging apparatus, according to the present invention, it should beunderstood by those skilled in the art that various additionalembodiments, alterations, modifications or adaptations of the presentclothing hanger apparatus may be made Within the scope of the presentinvention which is defined by and limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A clothing hanger apparatus for use in hanging clothing in movingvehicles which is adapted to be hung in a vertically depending positionof use and be easily placed in a generally inverted out-of-the-w-ayposition adjacent the vehicle headliner or top when not in use, saidhanger apparatus comprising.

a head member to be suspended in a vehicle below the headliner thereof;

a body portion to receive an article of clothing to be hung on theapparatus generally vertically within the vehicle when in use as ahanger;

journal means associated with said head member and body portion forpivotally mounting said body portion on said head member for pivotalmovement from a vertically depending clothes hanging position of use toa generally inverted, vertically upward, position of a non-use adjacentsaid vehicle headliner; and

means for holding said body portion on said journal means in saidgenerally inverted position relative to said head member.

2. The clothing hanger apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said head member includes means for removably mounting said head memberto a vehicle hook normally provided in automotive vehicles adjacent thevehicle headliner.

3. The clothing hanger apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means forholding said body portion on said journal means comprises:

biasing means for biasing said body in said inverted position when saidarticle of clothing is removed from said body portion, said biasingmeans allowing rotation of said body into said vertically dependingclothes hanging position of use to receive an article of clothingthereon.

4. The clothing hanger apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means forholding said body portion on said journal means comprises:

resilient means associated with said head member and body portionproviding a snug friction fit about said body portion for biasing saidbody portion into said inverted position after it has been rotated intosaid inverted position.

5. A clothing hanger apparatus for use in hanging clothing from a hook,such as a conventional coat hook in automobiles, adapted to be easilycarried by said hook in an out-of-the-way position ready for use, saidhanger apparatus comprising:

a head member including eye means for remova bly suspending said headmember from a hook;

a body portion to receive an article of clothing to be hung by theapparatus;

connecting means for connecting said head member and body portion forrelative rotation between a vertically depending clothes hangingposition of use and a generally inverted position of non-use relative tosaid head member; and

means for biasing said body portion when in said inverted positionrelative to said head member to place said body portion in anout-ot-the-way position relative to said hook and head member when saidhead member is suspended from said hook.

6. Coat hanger device adapted to be easily stored in an out-of-the-wayposition when not in use comprising;

a hanger wire body for receiving an article to be hung;

a head member including means for removably suspending said head memberat a location of use;

connecting means for pivotally connecting said head member to said wirebody for rotation of said wire body relative to said head member betweena vertically depending clothes hanging position of use and a generallyinverted position of non-use with said hanger wire body extendinggenerally vertically upward adjacent a headliner of said vehicle Whilesaid head member is removably suspended on said hook; and means forresiliently holding said wire body against movement out of saidgenerally inverted position relative to said head member when saidhanger wire body is not in use to hang an article thereon. 7. A clothinghanger apparatus for use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles which isadapted to be easily placed in an out-of-the-way position adjacent thevehicle headliner or top when not in use, said hanger apparatuscomprising:

a head member to be suspended in a vehicle below the headliner thereof;a body portion to receive an article of clothing to be hung on theapparatus when in use as a hanger; means for holding said body portionon said head member in a generally inverted position relative to saidhead member and in an out-of-the-way position extending generallyupwardly adjacent the headliner of the vehicle, said means for holdingsaid body portion on said head member including:

journal means on said head member for rotatably mounting said bodyportion on said head member, said body portion being rotatable on saidhead member between an upright position of use and said invertedposition, said journal means including upwar-dly opening bearing meansfor remo'va'bly supporting said body portion on said head member;

means are provided for urging said body portion downwardly onto saidbearing means when said body portion is removably supported on saidbearing means; and

biasing means to hold said body in said inverted position when rotatedin said inverted position, said biasing means allowing rotation of saidbody into an upright position of use to receive an article of clothingthereon.

8. The coat hanger device of claim 6 wherein:

said hanger wire body is mounted by said head member and connectingmeans for non-rotatable movement of said Wire body in a plane passingthrough said wire body when said body is suspended in said verticallydepending clothes hanging position of use.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 946,833 1/1910 Bake 211--991,605,682 11/1926 Mewborn 248-293 1,890,577 12/1932 Flake 2482931,942,663 1/ 1934 Saunders 248-493 1,995,983 3/1935 Hesse 211-99 X2,010,203 8/1935 Schuiling 211-99 2,707,565 5/1955 Evans 211- 104CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

